Reflecting on the past in English

I wish I had studied more when I was a child.

Key sentences

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger.	I would (verb) by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I (verb). It's a good thing I (verb).	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).

Say these sentences without looking.

I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger.
past participle	sentence
studied English	I wish I had studied English when I was younger.
learned to play the piano	I wish I had learned to play the piano when I was younger.
saved more money	I wish I had saved more money when I was younger.
started a business	I wish I had started a business when I was younger.

I would (verb) by now.
verb	sentence
be fluent	I would be fluent by now.
have mastered the piano	I would have mastered the piano by now.
be rich	I would be rich by now.
own my own business	I would own my own business by now.

I'm really glad I (verb).
verb	sentence
went to college	I'm really glad I went to college.
joined my company	I'm really glad I joined my company.
kept playing the piano	I'm really glad I kept playing the piano.
kept exercising	I'm really glad I kept exercising.

If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).
past participle	sentence
gotten a degree	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten a degree.
met my husband / wife	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have met my husband / wife.
become a great piano player	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have become a great piano player.
stayed in shape	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have stayed in shape.

Practice this conversation.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had (studied English) when I was younger.	I would (be fluent) by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I (went to college).	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (gotten a degree).

Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I wish I had ... when I was younger.	I would ... by now.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
I'm really glad I ....	If I hadn't, I wouldn't have ....

Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Regretting or being thankful	Explaining why
Talk about what you are glad about or regret.	Explain why.

Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.